Grading the LCS offseason – Which team gets the highest score?
As we start the new season of the LCS we see quite a few changes, with a lot of teams revamping their roster during the offseason. Let’s take a look at their most important changes and either give them a passing or failing grade. Does everyone get an A or will it be F’s all around?
Team Liquid
In: Alphari (Top), Santorin (Jungle)
Out: Impact, Broxah
We’re starting off strong with team Liquid who have changed up their top side of the map. Swapping Barney “Alphari” Morris for Jeong “Impact” Eon-Young means that Liquid will not be making an up-or-downgrade in the top lane. Alphari has always been one of the most consistent top laners. After struggling on a mediocre (or just plain bad) Origen team, he needed a new environment to fully embrace his playstyle in. Impact was always considered the ol’ reliable, thus this change pivoted more towards a different playstyle instead of a change in overall level of play.
We’d like to welcome @Alphari to Team Liquid. 🥳 #TLWIN
Let’s give a warm welcome to Barney “Alphari” to TL.
▶️ https://t.co/Drd88TNJ0q pic.twitter.com/51MDgld714
— Team Liquid LoL (@TeamLiquidLoL) November 20, 2020
Just like he left Fnatic in Europe, Broxah will now depart Team Liquid in North America. He will be replaced by Santorin, who had some poor performances in the past but found redemption at Flyquest. Santorin does fit the NA meta better than the EU meta. Broxah also wasn’t able to leave a big enough impression at Team Liquid, however, and Santorin might be able to fix this since he is clearly more bot lane focused. With TL arguably having the best botlane in NA, this will be the most significant improvement.
Rating: B
Cloud9
In: Perkz (Mid), Fudge (Top)
Out: Nisqy, Licorice
Licorice felt like the glue that kept C9 together with his positive mindset, but as that glue melted away before Worlds, the team fell apart and needed something new in the form of Fudge. Cloud9 also made a change in the mid lane, adding the most expensive import to date in the form of Perkz.
We are bringing the most accomplished and most impactful Western player in the history of League of Legends to #C9LoL. Watch him.
Welcome to Cloud9, @G2Perkz. #C9WIN
Full video: https://t.co/keBeuRh2ip
Read more: https://t.co/9Jov1CrFYC pic.twitter.com/UpILrPSzx1— Cloud9 (@Cloud9) November 20, 2020
Last year C9 had the strongest line-up they ever had and while they smashed almost everyone in the Spring Split, this changed during the Summer Split. Cloud9 now went back to its roots and has a strong jungler in the form of Robert “Blaber” Huang, accompanied by skillful midlaner Luka “Perkz” Perkovic who wants to show he’s the number one midlaner in both the LEC and LCS. This year they are probably the biggest gun in the LCS once again, but they need to be careful the gunpowder doesn’t blow up in their faces
Rating: A
Counter Logic Gaming
In: Finn (Top), Broxah (Jungle), Keel (Jungle), Wildturtle (Bot lane)
Out: Stixxay, Yeon
During Worlds most people were surprised that top laner Solo was the problem in the team and not bot laner Wildturtle. CLG always tries to make teams with hit-and-miss rookies included in the roster, but with these swaps they have a solid chance of building a strong foundation during the first weeks and can possibly reach play-offs.
Clear your weekend plans. #LCS #ALGS #CLGWIN pic.twitter.com/c6mBr4OKIi
— CLG (@clgaming) January 11, 2021
As they always kind of feeled like a jumbled mess in 2020, this iteration of the roster has more ways of pivoting in draft and playstyles. There isn’t really anyone flashy on this team but that also means no one will outshine the rest which works great for on-the-fly changes! While winning the LCS is still unlikely, Counter Logic Gaming have potentially built a contender and at least a mid table team.
Rating: B+
TSM
In: Huni (Top), PowerOfEvil (Mid), SwordArt (Support)
Out: BrokenBlade, Bjergsen, BioFrost
I must be honest and say this line-up makes little to no sense. TSM has brought in players that have heaps of individual skill, but together form a possibly unstable compound. Most of the swaps TSM made was mostly because these players were past their prime and were in need of replacing, especially following their results at Worlds this year.
SwordArt ➡️ @TSM #TSMWIN #LCS https://t.co/F5LRSuPEoq
— LCS (@LCSOfficial) November 26, 2020
While Bjergsen was an amazing player for TSM, mid laner PowerofEvil embodies evolution with his adaptability in both champion pool and build. However, he needs to hope this roster isn’t the end of his career. With SwordArt choosing NA to be his retirement place it does feel that two of these players are here to end their career with a bang… but what kind? There is no clear leadership here and while this could still be a strong team it’s mostly relying on former glory (looking at you, Huni).
Rating: D+
Evil Geniuses
In: Impact (Top), Deftly (Bot laner), Ignar (Support)
Out: Huni, Bang, ZeyZal
EG started strong last split but their performance kept going downhill. First relying on Huni’s leadership capabilities and when that didn’t work out the way it was supposed to, relying on Kumo’s (which also failed). The Svenskeren-Impact combo might translate into a strong topside, however it does leave Jizuke more lost in translation in the mid lane. He can possibly perform well but will most likely have to play safe during the laning phase and scrap roams from his dictionary, which possibly takes some of his options away.
A New Era, Made By Many #LCS #EGWIN pic.twitter.com/90OqhdQjGg
— Evil Geniuses (@EvilGeniuses) January 5, 2021
Ignar is a solid swap in this team, with his quirky champion pool and unique playstyle he makes a perfect experienced counterpart to the new rookie Deftly. It’s no secret that pairing young botlaners with experienced supports really works, especially in NA. Ignar adds the cherry on top with his creativity. Last year in Evil Geniuses everyone could take the lead and shotcall, but no one did. This year however it does feel as if there is a more clear hierarchy.
Rating: B
100 Thieves
In: Closer (Jungle), Damonte (Mid), FBI (Bot laner), Huhi (Support)
Out: Contractz, Cody Sun
Ssumday used to be a fantastic player coming from KT rolster but he really doesn’t have the impact he used to have anymore. Combining him with a ‘meta slave’ jungler in the form of Closer, a local midlaner in Damonte and support Huhi means this team has effectively wasted their resources.
Time to run it up.
Welcome FBI (@VictorHuang) as our starting ADC for the 2021 LCS season! pic.twitter.com/PcF3dv2hrV
— 100 Thieves (@100Thieves) November 17, 2020
While I’m glad to see Damonte play, the rest of the team does feel quite ambitionless. 100 Thieves does have bot laner FBI on the team who might come in strong and knock open several doors for them. 100 Thieves did the best they could with what was left from the previous talent pool.
Rating: C
Immortals
In: Revenge (Top), Xerxe (Jungle), Insanity (Mid), Raes (Bot laner), Destiny (Support)
Out: Allorim, Xmithie, Hakuho, Apollo
With chemistry-building in mind, @XerxeLoL is taking on the responsibility to help our rookies grow.#WEAREIMT pic.twitter.com/GMtLKFj6qI
— Immortals (@Immortals) December 18, 2020
Immortals will be swapping in an entirely new roster, which was desperately needed after a disastrous season in 2020. There’s not a lot to say about this line-up besides that Raes is a nice addition to the team. Immortals needed a new identity this year so after their flame died out, they are rebuilding from the ashes. This team does feel like a long-term investment. While they might do decently well, they have a lot to learn. They do have the potential on board to spread their wings later down the line.
Rating: C+
Flyquest
In: Licorice (Top), Josedeodo (Jungle), Palafox (Mid), Johnsun (Bot laner), Diamond (Support)
Out: Solo, Ignar, Santorin, Wildturtle, PowerofEvil
I’m so excited to finally be able to talk about joining @FlyQuest! I cant wait to play with my new teammates, I believe we have all the pieces that we need to surprise a lot of people and make a run at the trophy.
— Licorice (@Licorice) November 23, 2020
Once again we see a team choose to take on an entirely new roster. Licorice has now established himself as one of the best top laners of NA and he will have a huge part to play in the potential success of this roster. He has to convey almost everything he learned from last year to his new teammates. Flyquest also brings in a Latin American player in the jungle in the form of Josedeodo and we’ll have to wait to see how he performs on the big stage of the LCS. It does feel like Flyquest is trying to do this year what immortals couldn’t do in the previous year, namely build a rookie team and give them a (successful) trial by fire.
Rating: C
Dignitas
In: FakeGod (Top), Soligo (Mid), Neo (Bot laner)
out: V1per, Fenix, Johnsun
It’s time to win lanes and win games.
Welcome @FakeGod as our new LCS Top Laner! pic.twitter.com/UzAfgtWoBk
— Dignitas (@dignitas) November 25, 2020
Going all-in on the land of the brave and the free as Dignitas come in with pure American muscle. With all these players being American residents, language barriers shouldn’t be a problem at all. Unfortunately that’s where the good news ends for Dignitas. This roster is quite disappointing and almost tame. No one really sticks out, there’s almost no strong solo laners and on top of all of that none of these players have experience in shotcalling. Even for academy lineups, these aren’t really big names. Bold move by Dignitas, but it remains to be seen if it’ll turn out well.
Rating: D+
Golden Guardians
In: Niles (Top), Iconic (Jungle), Ablazeolive (Mid), Stixxay (Bot laner), Newbie (Support)
Out: Closer, Damonte, FBI, Huhi, Hauntzer
He is a veteran who has been to MSI, Worlds, and also won 2016 Spring Finals. He is the veteran presence we need to guide this team of rookies
Welcome GG @Stixxay pic.twitter.com/wPZ6sWA4gb
— Golden Guardians (@GoldenGuardians) November 25, 2020
Hey, guess what? Another LCS team undergoing a full roster swap! In Golden Guardians defense it does seem that this line-up might have been made to build something around veteran player Stixxay. Golden Guardians has been the most tranquil team last year, both in the split and on social media.
A lot of these players are making the jump, not from academy, but from a university league. If Stixxay is now the biggest name in their roster, it’s quite indicative of what might happen this year. Most likely to end in last place.
Rating: F
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